Stay in the loop with free updates. Just sign up for the War in Ukraine myFT Digest and get it delivered directly to your inbox. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is getting ready to replace his top general, which would be the most significant change in Ukraine’s military leadership since Russia’s invasion two years ago. Zelenskyy offered Valeriy Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, a new role as a defense adviser, but Zaluzhny declined according to four sources knowledgeable about the discussions. Two of them mentioned that Zelenskyy made it clear to Zaluzhny that he would be removed from his current position regardless of whether he accepted the new role. It has been reported that Zaluzhny may not be ousted for some time, although the decision has been made in Zelenskyy’s office. There has been speculation for months about Zaluzhny’s fate, fueled by reports of tension between him and the president. The strained relationship between the two became public in November after Ukraine’s much-anticipated counteroffensive failed to achieve its ambitious goals of taking back lost territory and cutting off Russia’s land connection to Crimea. Zaluzhny said at the time that the war had reached a “stalemate,” which led the president’s office to criticize him for using the term. On Monday, Zelenskyy’s spokesperson, Serhiy Nykyforov, and the defense ministry denied reports about Zaluzhny’s dismissal. The ministry wrote on its Telegram channel, “Dear journalists, we immediately answer everyone: No, this is not true,” without providing additional context. The president’s office declined to comment further on Tuesday. Zaluzhny’s removal would also cause a stir among Ukraine’s rank-and-file military and civil society, as he enjoys significant support. According to a Ukrainian poll released in December, 88% of Ukrainians said they trusted Zaluzhny, compared with 62% who said they trusted Zelenskyy. Ukrainian military historian Mykhailo Zhyrokhov said this decision would have a very negative impact on the morale of the army and believed the rumors to be fabricated. Replacing Zaluzhny could unsettle Ukraine’s western partners, including military officials who have worked closely with the general over the past two years to devise battlefield strategies. The war is at a crucial point as Kyiv waits to see whether it will receive billions of dollars’ worth of critical military and financial aid from the US and the EU. Zaluzhny has not commented on the reports of his dismissal. On Monday, however, he posted an undated selfie with his chief of the general staff Serhiy Shaptala on Facebook, both wearing Ukrainian army sweatshirts. Reports of Zaluzhny’s imminent ousting began circulating on Monday evening in local media and on anonymous local Telegram channels. They also appeared in public comments from politicians closely aligned with former president Petro Poroshenko, whom Zelenskyy defeated in the 2019 election. According to all four sources, it is currently unclear who would replace Zaluzhny as commander-in-chief. Possible candidates are Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the country’s military intelligence directorate. Both men are close to Zelenskyy. Ukrainian news outlet Mirror of the Week also reported the discussions around Zaluzhny’s possible dismissal, citing sources in Zelenskyy’s office. Several other media cited sources who said that Zaluzhny had already been dismissed or would be let go imminently. A four-star career military man known as the “Iron General” by his admirers, Zaluzhny, 50, was appointed by Zelenskyy to the post of commander-in-chief in July 2021. He has overseen Ukraine’s military operations since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. He is credited with orchestrating several of Ukraine’s military successes, including the defense of Kyiv in the first days of Russia’s invasion, and the successful counteroffensives in the eastern Kharkiv region and the southern regional capital of Kherson in autumn 2022. Zelenskyy has reportedly tried to keep Zaluzhny, whom he viewed as a potential competitor, out of the public eye and bypassed him during key moments of the war by communicating orders to the general’s subordinates. Video: Ukraine tech sector goes to war | FT Film
